MP happy to meet union over job losses

The Member for Whitsunday, Jason Costigan, says a stoush with the local Together Union branch could soon be resolved.

There has been widespread union anger over Queensland Government job cuts in the public service and the local branch is angry the LNP Member has not formally met it to discuss the losses.

Mr Costigan is again appealing to the unions to work with the Government to save as many jobs as possible.

"We hope to meet with the Together people in the not too distant future and ... if it's over a cup of tea, in an office somewhere quietly or a beer at the pub, doesn't worry me but I'm happy to sit down and eyeball the local people and hear what they've got to say and give them a fair go but at the same time they need to reciprocate that and ... hopefully there's some common ground there that we can come to," he said.

Mr Costigan says his door is always open.

"I'll take people on face value. I'm not frightened to meet with anybody," he said.

"I'm happy to talk with the CFMEU [Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union] at the top and the bottom pub up the back of Collinsville, no worries whatsoever.

"I'm happy to sit down and talk with the Together people.

"It goes without saying that we would want and like and wish for the unions to work with the Government to preserve as many jobs as we can."